Riot police fire tear gas and warning shots as English soccer fans spill into the streets in France

2014-10-23 125

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

English soccer club, Everton, asked fans to avoid the center of Lille on Thursday (October 23) after clashes between supporters of the Premier League club and the police ahead of a Europa League Group H game.

Dozens of anti-riot police used tear gas and warning shots to disperse around 200 English fans who had gathered at the city's main Grand Place early in the afternoon, police told Reuters.

A number of shop windows were broken in the 10-minute brawl and a British national had been detained, a spokesperson said, adding that there had been no injuries.

"We advise Everton fans in Lille to avoid the main square in the city centre," the Premier League club said on its Twitter feed after the incidents.

A police source told Reuters the trouble started after British officers in plainclothes who had travelled to Lille, tried to arrest an Everton fan they had recognized.

"There were just a few of them and they were quickly